Apparatus for cleaning bottles



June 2, 1953 A. s. HAMILTON, JR 2,640,212

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Filed July 11. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 u u. E i

INVENTOR ART/2M1? 5. HAM L Tfl/XJH. W

' ATTORNEY June 2, 1953 A. s. HAMILTON, JR

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11 1950 I N VEN TOR ARTE? 5. HAM/L 727mm ATTORNEY June 2, 1953 A. s. HAMILTON, JR 2,640,212

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Filed July 11. 1950 s. Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR m ARTHUR SI fz'AM/LTUIXJH.

ATTORNEY June 2, 1953 A. s. HAMILTON, JR

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 11 1950 INVENTOR AFT/ UH 5 HAM/L701); JA?

Biaz t ATTORN! June 1953 A. s. HAMILTON, JR 2,640,212

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOTTLES Filed July 11. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR APT/7H4? ElilM/LTU/XR ATTORNEY I Patented June 2, 1953 .f -N TE STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING no'rcrnss mm s. naniiuon, JrQ Bri ghton; if. Y1 Application'July '11, 1950, senamo. 173,170

This invention relates to apparatus .for cleaning the exterior. surfaces of bottles; having :to do particularly with removing paint,*coloring matter, dirt,'i".dust, "or otherfisubstance irom:;th e outer surfaces of bottles without permitting .access f the cleaning agent tolzthe'interior of thexbottle, and'it has foriits purpose L170 :afford an-zeficient and practical "machineifor performing theseiiunctions expeditiously':and 'thorough1y.

' Itis: a commonapracticeztoiapply'paint or coloring imaterialr to rtherexterior 'surfacesz'oi bottles iorlabeling purposes, andrintheperformance of thisope'rationsa; .largeemnnber 'of bottles are imisprinted oradefectively 1abeled,;making it necessary 'tot remove: the. paint or ;C010ring material from the bottle, Land it "is r' artioular :object of the; invention :tozafiordan apparatus of a practical: construction whichircan :be operated "in an economical manner :to effectively remove paint or coloring material from :such rejects, .sothat they can be quickly readied :for'redecoration or labeling. z-f g I-Ieretofore this has been accomplished usually by hand andxthe coloring-material removed'from the surfaces of"-=the bottles by; means :of: wire brushes, inxsome instances-hiebottleshavingbeen gripped tightly andarota-tedraga'instbrushes, and it is a further purpose oi theinvention'to .afior'd means by: which'pthe exterior surfaces of 1 the bottles can be: efiectively cleaned-by sprays of 2a heatedmixtureofzwater anddetergenatthesprays of cleaning :material being-directed against the bottlesin such xfashion and" under: such :pressure as to stripr-or thoroughly zloosen any paint-or coloringzmaterialaadhering tozthe surfaceiof the bottle; while preventing: the possibility of any cleaning materialgaining access to :the -interior of=the bottlep 1 w.

Another purpose of theinvention is to afford a structure that: moves-a series of bottles, :WhilE inverted-,- continuously in a horizontal plane through awash chamber where the-bottles. are subjected to a multiplicity 'crvheated'sprays f water and detergent under pressure "Ito-loosen the paint-or coloring vmaterial;thence between a pair of rotary idriven -brushes that rotate thev bottle while in contact therewith and remove theapreviouslyloosened coloring material; then through a series of" washing sprays;rand-finallynthrough a rinsewoha-mber in which the exterior-"surfaces of the bottles-are thoroughly rinsed" by a multiplicity of sprays of heated water'arranged in 'thewsame manner as inthe wash chamber.-

1 An additional object of the invention is-to afford a-practical mechanism inwhich thebottles can be fed through successive washand rinse chame bers located above wash. and rinse tanks respectillel'flginto which the washingandrinsing water falls after being sprayed over the bottles .asthey pass therethrough,-whi-le-efieotive means arecprO- videdto maintain a constant circulation between the wash andrinse tanks and thesprayingdevices in the wash and rinse chambers respectively, together with means for efiectivelyheatihgv nd controllingthe temperatureof the vwater. in,,the washand rinse tanks.

- v To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of, parts that will appear clearly from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with (the; accompanying drawings, the novel features losingpointed out in the claims following thespecification-fa In thedrawings: v Fig. 1 iszavside elevation of an apparatus constructedin accordance with one embodiment of the invention and operable to-- carry out-thasubject matter of the invention; 1 a

- Fig.. 2 is a horizontal plan view with the upper part of the housing removed; and showing the bottle conveyor with-the wash andrinsetanks therebeneath; a... i Fig.3 is-an'enlarged detail transversesectional view through the. conveyor and the supporting guide .tracks; I I Fig. '4 is a plan view with parts broken-away of the guideway. for the conveyor; I g

Fig. 5 isran end elevation of the same;

..Eig..6 is a longitudinal vertical-sectional view taken-centrally; of the machine and loolging ina direction opposite to thatof Fig, 1;E ,1 a Fig. '7 is gatransverseverticalsectional view taken through the wash chamber and wash tank; Fig. 8 is --a transverse --vertical sectionaleview taken through the rinse chamber and rinse tank; -Fig.- 9'isa'v-iew inend elevation looking toward the-inlet encl of the machine; 3 Fig. 10 is a similar viewlooking toward the outlet end oi-gthelmachine; i 1 Fig. 11 isi-an enlarged detail view in elevation of-one of the bottleholders; Fig. 12 isa plan view of the same, and I --Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of. one of the brushes: Referring more particularly to the drawings in whichlike reference numerals refer to-the same partsthroughout the several views andto and -6, the invention in the'embodiment illustrated includes awash chamber designated generally at xand a-rinse;chamber designated at 12, while. 3 and 4. designates wash and rinse;tanks located beneath the wash and rinse chambers respectively and adapted to receive the wash and rinse waters after they are sprayed on to the bottles, as will be described more fully presently, and from which the wash and rinse waters are returned to the spray devices located in the wash and rinse chambers respectively.

The wash and rinse tanks are separated by a partition 5 and the wash and rinse chambers are separated by a suitable wall 6, and provided at their ends with the walls I and 8 respectively, said walls 6, I and 8 being provided with openings within which may be located flexible curtains divided at their central portions to permit the bottles to pass therethrough, and acting to prevent water from the wash chamber being sprayed into the rinse chamber and to prevent water from the wash and rinse chambers from being sprayed outside the machine housing, which includes a top wall designated generally at 9 and a bottom wall designated at ll which may be mounted on suitable bases or supports, while [2, l2 designate drain outlets from the wash and rinse tanks.

The bottles are fed through the machine at a rate varying from sixteen to thirty-six bottles per minute in a horizontal plane on an endless chain I3 which is provided with brackets I4, see Figs. 11 and 12, each bracket carrying an upstanding spindle or post I5 that extends inside a bottle when inverted, while I6 designates a base or support of plastic or other suitable material at the base of the spindle IS, the bottle resting thereon in the position indicated in Fig. 9 when traveling through the machine. The endless chain or conveyor I3 travels between upper and lower tracks or guides l1 and I8, see Figs. 3 and 5, which are supported by side plates I9 and travels on a bottom plate 2| which supports the conveyor tracks and is in turn mounted on plate 22 that is supported by the longitudinally extending right-angular plate 23 fixedly attached therebeneath and suitably attached to the cross-members 24, see Figs. 4 and 5, mounted in any convenient fashion on the frame of the machine.

The endless conveyor I3 travels in the direction indicated in Fig. 2 around sprocket wheels 25 and 26, the sprocket wheel 26 being an idler wheel and sprocket wheel 25 being mounted on an arbor 21, see Figs. 1 and 9, which is operated from electric motor 28 to turn the arbor 21 and move the endless conveyor continuously, thus effecting movement of the bottles through the apparatus. The bottles are removed from the spindles or posts I5 by an operator at one end of the machine after they have passed therethrough, ad-

ditional uncleaned bottles being placed on the spindles at the same time for subsequent cleanmg.

As the bottles travel through the machine, they are subjected in the wash chamber to sprays of a heated mixture of water and detergent under pressure, these sprays being arranged so as to strike the exterior surfaces of the bottles at acute angles between horizontal and vertical planes, and to accomplish this there are provided in the wash chamber I spray pipes indicated at 29, 3| and 32 respectively on opposite sides of the vertical center along which the bottles travel, and these spray pipes are provided with outlets and spray nozzles arranged at close intervals and directed downwardly at an acute angle between horizontal and vertical planes, as indicated in Fig. 7, so as to strike the outer surface of a bottle at opposite points adjacent to the upper, lower and central portions of the bottle and at acute angles, causing the hot spray of water and detergent under pressure to loosen any adhering paint or coloring material.

The water and detergent when sprayed on to the outer surfaces of the bottles is preferably at a temperature of between approximately F. and F., and the cleaning liquid is maint-ained at a minimum pressure between approximately twenty-five and thirty-five pounds per square inch at each spray nozzle in the wash chamber. Thus the water is atomized and there is maintained in the wash chamber a mass of water vapor or water particles in suspension that effectively soak the exterior surface or" the bottle and any coloring material adhering thereto, and the sprays being directed at approximately the angles shown and under the pressure described above act to strip the paint or coloring material from the bottle in a manner that is not possible with procedures and mechanisms that have heretofore been followed, while at the same time the cold air emerging from each bottle expands and thus prevents moisture from entering and forming on its interior surface. After striking the bottles, the water falls into wash tank 3, from which solid matter that settles in the bottom of the tank may be removed through clean-out doors which may be conveniently arranged.

The water in wash tank 3 is drawn through pipe 33, connecting with the bottom of the wash tank, see Fig. 1, and pump 34 forces it upwardly through pipe 35 which leads inwardly to the wash chamber I and connects with the spray pipes 29, 3E and 32 already described, the pump 34 being operated by electric motor 36, it being understood that detergent is placed in the wash tank as required. A continuous circulation of water to the spray devices in the rinse chamber is maintained through pipe 3'! which connects with the bottom of the rinse tank by means of pump 38 through pipe 39, see Fig. l, which enters the rinse chamber 2 and connects with the spray pipes M, 42 and 43 arranged therein on opposite sides of the path of the bottles and conveyor, at the same angles as already described with reference to the wash chamber, the pump 38 being operated by the electric motor 44, see Fig. 1.

The Water in the wash and rinse tanks may be retained at the required temperature by steam pipe 45 extending within the wash tank, see Figs. 6 and 7, and steam pipe 48 extending within the rinse tank, see Figs. 6 and S, the steam pipes being provided with suitable outlet openings within the wash and rinse tanks and connected with any suitable source of steam supply. If preferred, the water in the wash and rinse tanks may be heated by gas burners, connected with any suitable heat-transfer units in the tanks, or the water may be heated by electrical units in heating contact wtih the sides or interior of the tanks, the particular method of heating the water forming no part of the present invention, and the steam supply may be automatically controlled by suitable temperature-controlled solenoid valves in the steam lines. Fresh supplies of water can be supplied to the wash and rinse tanks in any convenient fashion as by means of hose or otherwise, it being understood that the water in the wash and rinse tanks is heated and continuously circulated to the wash and rinse chambers in the manner already described.

The pumps which maintain circulation between the wash tank and spray devices in the Wash chamber and the rinse tank and spray deanionic vices in the -rinse chamber are operatedito maintain a pressure at the spray nozzles of approximately itwenty-five to *thirty-i lve pounds -per square inch in the wash chamber and' approxi mately eighteen to twenty-three pounds per square inch at the spray nozzles in the rinse chamber,,at which pressures the paint is successfully soaked and loosened.

It is desirable to =aiford a means for removing most of the paint, .coloring inatter or other adhering material on the surface of the bottles beforeithe final washing operation, and inorder to accomplish this,'there are provided in;th e,wash chamber two vertically disposed rotatingtbrushes indicated at 11 and 58, see Figs. 6 and ,7, and mounted on vertical shafts 3.9 and! respectively whichare supported in suitable bearingsand provided at their upper ends with the gear wheels -52 and 53 between which islocated'the meshing pinion 54 on shaft 55, that-is-driye-n by theelectric motor fifi torotate the gear wheels 52 and-53 in the same direction. The-brushes :14! andq iu one of which is shown in detail in. Fig.-l3, arepreferably formed of nylon plastic bristles and when abottle is moved in between the positivelydriven rotating brushes and in contacttherewiththe brushes effect a rotation of the latter and effectively remove from the surface of the bottle the paint, coloring matter, or other material previously loosened by the initial washing operation and not already removed in the washing chamber.

The brushes M and 118 are located intermediate the ends of the wash chamber so that the bottles are subjected to an additional washing operation from the hot sprays of water and detergent after passing the brushes and after most of the loosened paint or other matter has been removed by the brushes. Thus a final and effective washing takes place to remove any material that may still adhere before the bottles enter the rinse chamber, where they are subjected to the action of sprays of hot clear rinse water from the angularly disposed nozzles in the pipes 4|, t2 and d3 through which continuous circulation is maintained from the rinse tank as already described. 4

It is desirable to effect a final rinsing of the bottles with a fresh supply of clear heated rinse water, and to accomplish this there is provided in the rinse chamber, between the spray pipes 4 I, 2 and 43 and the outlet from the rinse chamber, a spray head. 57, see Fig. 6, which directs a spray downwardly in a vertical direction over each bottle just before it passes from the rinse chamber, the spray head 5'! being connected to pipe 58 which is coiled through the rinse chamber as at 59 and connected with any suitable source of clear water supply. Thus there is maintained a continuous supply of water for spray head 51, such water coming from a water main or other source to insure a fresh clear supply, and being heated by passing through coil 59 which is located in the rinse tank. Thus the bottles before emerging from the rins chamber are thoroughly rinsed with a heated supply of clear water which also insures a continuous supply of fresh water in. the rinse tank. The heating coil 59 will heat one-half gallon of clear water per minute from 40 F. to approximately 140 F. to 160 F.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, 6| designates an overflow pipe in the rinse tank connected with any suitable outlet for maintaining a predetermined level in the rinse tank while 62 is an overflow pipe in the wash tank that is connected with any suitable outlet. It is desirable in connection 6 with the wash tank ito prevent overflow 0f the foam orsuds on' top of the washingliqui'dtlirough the outlet that maintains the level -:of washin liquid and to bring about .this result, there'iis provided a cylindrical housing 63 surroundin spaced from; and supported on the iupperend of pipe 6-2 and affording an overflowl'evelconsiderably above the upperend :of pipe 82 -The housing 563 prevents foam .or suds'which .may rest on top of -the;body of water from -over'flowin'g intp the pipe-'62, so that the foam resulting' from the detergent will not run until it reaches the upper end of housing 63 where it overflows into openings 64, see Fig. 7, while the body (if liquid is permitted torisebetween pipe-p2 housing fi't andoverfiow at the upper end of pipe 62. This enables maintaining the desired level of cleaning dicruld waheumndue taste of the i me se hic a a iefa la i as this operation. ififidesiignatesla plate ofbafil the wash tank that receives water frozntheiwash chambg-zr,anddeflects it i to the-washtank, while 55 designates plate or baiile abov rinse tank that receives water from'the;r1ns e chamber anddeflects it ir itothe rinse tank. .61

and ts designate sludge pan s in'thewashf'aiid rins tanks respectively forlcoritaining land l f.

venting recirculation of 'theslud ge which collects and can be removed at intervals through suitable clean-out doors.

While the invention has been described with reference to the particular construction herein shown, it is not confined to the details illustrated and described, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or departure as may come within the purposes of the improvements and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning the exterior surfaces of bottles comprising an endless conveyor traveling in a horizontal plane and provided with a series of vertically arranged spindles for holding the bottles inverted, wash and rinse chambers through which the conveyor and bottles travel, a pair of vertically arranged rotary brushes arranged intermediate the ends of the wash chamber and engageable with opposite surfaces of a bottle, means for rotating said brushes in the same direction while engaged with the bottle. spray-discharge nozzles arranged in the wash chamber on opposite sides of the brushes and disposed at acute angles between horizontal and vertical planes acting to direct hot sprays downwardly toward a bottle from opposite points, spray nozzles similarly arranged in the rinse chamber and operating to direct rinsing sprays on to the exterior surface of the bottle from opposite points and at acute angles between horizontal and vertical planes, a wash tank and a rinse tank located beneath the wash and rinse chambers respectively, means for heating the water in the wash and rinse tanks, pumps connected with the wash and rinse tanks respectively acting to maintain a continuous circulation of water under pressure to the spray nozzles in the wash and rinse chambers, and an overflow pipe in the wash chamber including an overflow level for liquid, an overflow level thereabove for foam, and a barrier preventing access of foam to the liquid overflow.

2. Apparatus for cleaning the exterior surfaces of bottles comprising an endless conveyor traveling in a horizontal plane and provided with a series of vertically arranged spindles for holding the bottles inverted, wash and rinse chambers through which the conveyor and bottles travel, a

pair of vertically arranged rotary brushes arranged intermediate the ends of the wash chamber and engageable with opposite surfaces of a bottle, means for rotating said brushes in the same direction while engaged with the bottle, spray-discharge nozzles arranged in the wash chamber on opposite sides of the brushes and disposed at acute angles between horizontal and vertical planes acting to direct hot sprays downwardly toward a bottle from opposite points, spray nozzles similarly arranged in the rinse chamber and operating to direct rinsing sprays on to the exterior surface of the bottle from opposite points and at acute angles between horizontal and vertical planes, a wash tank and a rinse tank located beneath the wash and rinse chambers respectively, means for heating the water in the wash and rinse tanks, pumps connected with the wash and rinse tanks respectively acting to maintain a continuous circulation of water under pressure to the spray nozzles in the wash and rinse chambers respectively, a rinsing spray device located above the path of the conveyor between the aforesaid spray nozzles in the rinse chamber and the outlet from the rinse chamber, and spray device acting to direct rinse water downwardly in a vertical direction on to the bottles just before they emerge from the rinse chamber, a water supply pipe extending through the rinse tank and connected with said last mentioned spray device, and an overflow pipe in the wash chamber including an overflow level for liquid, an overflow level therea-bove for foam, and a barrier preventing access of foam to the liquid overflow.

ARTHUR S. HAMILTON, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 797,298 Loew Aug. 15, 1905 1,053,903 Chilton Feb. 18, 1913 1,095,290 Schmid May 5, 1914 1,671,924 Brogden May 29, 1928 2,115,204 Kimball Apr. '26, 1938 2,191,513 Bigelow Feb. 27, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number Country Date 38,099 Denmark Oct. 31, 1927 124,730 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1928 324,125 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1930 5 363,499 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1931 522,735 Germany Apr. 14, 1931 648,967 France Nov. 20, 1928 

